The start of a new era?
For those of you who don’t know, I live in the small unincorporated township of Logandale. Since it is unincorporated, there is no mayor or city council, instead there is a 5 member Town Advisory Board (TAB) that hears things that would go before a city council. They vote on these items, and then those items go before the Clark County Board of County Commissioners (BCC), which takes the TAB’s vote into consideration and then makes a final decision. For many years (actually a couple of decades), there has been a straw poll taken at every election, and the 5 highest vote-getters have been appointed to the TAB. This seems to make sense, as it allows the voice of the people to choose their representatives, and history suggests that it has worked well.
But the times they are a-changin’. When the new BCC was sworn in recently, one of the first things they had to do was finalize all of the TAB’s in Clark County. Instead of listening to the voice of the people and appointing the 5 people with the most votes, they only selected 3. The other 2 positions went to people who, at least based on the number of votes they received, wouldn’t do a good job of representing the town of Logandale. The local paper, the Moapa Valley Progress has an article in this week’s paper that ought to throw up a HUGE red flag for all of us. I think it gives us a very clear idea of what sort of change might be on the horizon - specifically for residents in Logandale, but also for Clark County & even for all Americans. You see, the Clark County BCC is now 100% Democrat. They are further bolstered by a Democratic controlled Nevada legislature that has a veto proof majority, both Congressional representatives who represent Clark County are Democrats, and they have the ear of Senator Harry Reid as well as President-elect Obama. So they are no doubt feeling pretty good about themselves. This is evidenced by some of the statements and actions reported in the Progress article. Commissioner Tom Collins had the following to say when the Progress called him for a comment on this new break from democratic procedure and the new appointments:
“I have no comments for you on your paper. You know what I think of you. Have a nice day.” Then he abruptly hung up the line.
Collins knows that the Progress is the only paper in Logandale. If he wants to get a message out quickly to his constituents there, it is the fastest way to do so. Well, the message was received loud and clear. The residents of Logandale can pretty easily figure out just what Collins thinks of them, both by the way he listened to their voice on election day & in his comment to the paper.
When state assemblyman Joe Hardy called Collins to ask about the change in appointments, Collins said:
“He (Collins) told me that it was now a new era,” Hardy said. “He said that he wanted to break the mold and do things differently. He felt that the change would be for the better.”
What new era is starting now? Politicians have been ignoring their constituents for some time now, so that’s not new. What is new however is that this ignoring is now out in the open, and is being openly admitted by politicians like Collins - and embraced by many voters. I guess when your party controls everything, you can do what you want, thus proving the old saying about power.
So we now stand on the precipice of a new era. Well, it’s at least new to us, but not to this land. I seem to remember that 230+ years ago, people here had very similar issues. This new (to us) era is one where elected officials do whatever they want without any regard for those whom they claim to represent. And when questioned about it, are belligerent and rude in their response. After all, how dare those of us in the underclass question them?
I fear that we are in for a lot of this at all levels. This is certainly a bad sign of things to come in Logandale and Clark County, but I think it is also an example of just what we can expect from most of our elected officials at most levels.
Rick Eide was one of the people who had served on the TAB & had received enough votes in the straw poll but was not reappointed. I know Rick (not well, but I know him). He is very opinionated and honest. If he doesn’t agree with you, he will tell you, and he will explain why. While he can become animated, he’s not rude. I also, unfortunately, know Tom Collins. He is also very opinionated. He’s very pro-big government and knows everything, including what’s best for you. He’s one of those guys who feels it is his right to protect you from yourself while increasing the girth of the government’s waistline. He’s one of those people that Ronald Reagan warned us about when he told us what the 9 scariest words in the English language are (I’m from the government and I’m here to help).
Another unfortunate part of this sad affair is who was appointed in place of those who were the winners in the democratic process. I also have had the unfortunate experience of dealing with Rick’s replacement, Billy Mildice. Some may call him a dimwitted hack and a tool. I would argue that doing so is a huge disservice to dimwits, hacks and tools the world over. But he is Tom Collins’ tool, and Collins knows how to use him, and no doubt will use him well. It will be very interesting - in a sad, pathetic way - reading about his antics on the TAB, and I feel for anyone who has to go before that board, as well as the other members of the board.
Eide’s comment really sums up what Logandale residents and indeed all Americans are going to experience for the foreseeable future.
“The new Commission has proven right off in their very first meeting that the will of this community will not be heard. My concern is that this community no longer has any representation at all at the County level.”
Indeed, looking at the federal level and the bailout-palooza, they have largely ignored American citizens. The Clark County BCC, in one of their first actions, set the tone for at least the next 2 years, and probably longer, showing that they don’t feel it important to listen to their constituents, nor do they feel a need to explain their actions.
We’ll have to wait just a little longer to see what happens in the Nevada legislature this year. Last November, Nevadans overwhelmingly rejected tax hikes. The Democrats who have control are typical tax and spend liberals, and all but a few of the Republicans appear ready to roll over in hopes of getting their belly rubbed.
Will they do their will or the will of the people? It’s really not too tough to guess.